Buying Hi-End CD Player or Transport..

I've heard the Audio Aero with the Joule Marquis OTL amps, preamp, and the Merlin Mellenium speakers at CES and the Stereophile show and it is really good. I'd probably agree with Jtinn. I'd give this one a listen. I've not heard the Audiomeca. Have fun.

I agree with Lev335, the ML 39 CD player is a great choice. And if you want separates, it would be very hard to beat the ML 37 transport used with 360 or 360S DAC. I use this combo, and it is excellent. It can "boogie" on R&R, or sound sublime on classical. Good Hunting. Craig

Since the 39 has been replaced by the 390s and there is a significant improvement, I would not consider the "old" 39. :) The new 390s uses the Anagram DAC made famous by Audiomeca and Audio Aero. The Audio Aero Capitole 24/192 also has a gain control and puts out a hefty 3.5 - 4 v's. It will drive most anything. If all you listen to is digital, I would strongly suggest the possibility of selling your preamp and running the Capitole directly for what could be the best sound. If you want just a DAC, the Audiomeca Enkianthus is fantastic.

I would be careful with Levinson product right now due to the changeover in the 39. I am sure the other units will follow shortly.

The other good news is that very shortly Audio Aero will be releasing their Premier SACD/CD/DVD-V/CD-R/CD-RW/CD-V upsampling player. It should raise some eyebrows.

PS. I have always been a Levinson digital fan, but they seem to be a bit behind the latest technology right now with most of their units.

Agreed with Jtinn-

I use the Capitole 24/192, and wouldn't trade it for anything right now. Also- I drive 4 tube amps directly in a bi-amp config using the balanced and SE outs simulataeously. The larger 170 wpc triode monoblocks (used for bass duty) have volume control as well for flexible gain matching with the mids/highs.

In summary- Capitole allowed me to replace 3 pieces (Sim Audio Eclipse CDP; DCS Purcell upsampler; ARC LS-16 preamp) with ONE BOX, AND got superior musicality to boot!

I have not heard either the Audio Aero Capitole or the Audiomeca Mephisto, but I did own the Audiomeca Enkianthus 24/192 Upsampling dac for a short while. Using that as the source of my comments, since the Mephisto contains the same digital-to-analog electronics as the Enkianthus, I sort of agree with Jtinn. The Enkianthus is extremely smooth yet very detailed, an extremely rare combination of sonic traits. Redbook CD's are rounder, more fleshed out and the soundstage is wider. The upsampling effect, which I am trying to describe, I believe is why people describe this player/DAC as more analog than anything they have ever heard. However the upsampling "takes the edge off" these recordings, if there was one. Some of you might think this is a good thing and I would agree generally, but is it always a good thing? The Enkianthus does the intimate recording as well as anything that I have ever heard, but it does take something away which is present and you may find this effect fatiguing, particularly on recordings of grand scale. I would love to hear the Audiomeca gear with a switch which allowed me to defeat the upsampling when I so choose. I am interested to hear the Audio Aero, which I have heard has more dynamics and punch than the Audiomeca gear. Still I would say that the Audiomeca gear is excellent and is a must-hear for some of the best sound that an upsampling digital system can provide.